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John Simpson first set foot in Afghanistan in the early days of 1980 and was captivated by the savage beauty of its lands, the tenacity and endurance of its people. It is a rich and complex country, long fought-over for its strategic significance. From the early Iranian settlers and the coming of Islam - via the invasions of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, the Persians, Ephinstone's British Army and the Soviets; through defeat, victory, occupation and civil war - to the current tensions as the West withdraws, John Simpson offers a personal celebration of the Afghans and their country, its unforgettable wild beauty and excitement.
About the author
John Simpson is the BBC's World Affairs Editor. He has twice been the Royal Television Society's Journalist of the Year and won countless other major awards. He is the author of many books, including four volumes of autobiography, Strange Places, Questionable People, A Mad World, My Masters, News from No Man's Land and Days from a Different World. The Wars Against Saddam is his compelling account of the West's relationship with Iraq and his two decades reporting on that relationship encompassing two Gulf Wars and the fall of Saddam Hussein. He lives in London with his South African wife, Dee, and their son, Rafe.
